Apparatus for closing packets provided with alpha closure flap



June 24, 1930. w VQlGT 1,766,860

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING PACKETS PROVIDED WITH A CLOSURE FLAP Filed Feb. 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 24, 1930.

R. w. VOIGT 1,766,860

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING PACKETS PROVIDED WITH A CLOSURE FLAP Filed Feb. 8, 1928 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Fig. 2

6 is then bent forward by usin Patented June a4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT WHEEL! \TOIIIG'JP, 0] 173.381), GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO THE mm: UNI- INEN- FABBIK J. G. MULLER Q; 00., OF DRESDEN,

APPARATUS 1'03 CLOSING PACKETS PROVIDED WITH A .OLOSUBE rm Application fled February 8, 1828, Serial No.

In the known devices for putting the closure flaps of packets into the closed position, the acket is displaced parallel to the plane of t e closure flap and t e closure flap g a wed eshaped stri or led e by the ai of a 0 ding strip coated hesi e the said wedgeshaped strip, while the further treatment consists in pressing the bent closure flap by means of further guiding strips, rams and pressers on to the end surface of the packet, and introducing it by its tip into a slot located there.

According to the present invention, on the contrary, a controlled gripper is provided,- which seizes the bent-up end of the closure flap and presses it down on to the packet in such a way that the tip of the closure flap passes into a closure slit provided in the packet. When the tip is introduced into the slit in the packet, the complete closure can) be immediately brought about after drawing back the gripper, by means of a ram guided against the back of the closure flap carrier.

The gripper consists of a mandrel slotted from its end, which is carried by su porting and controlling mechanism termed a controlling lever gear, which executes a movement in the plane of the bent-up closure flap,

wherein the closure flap passes into the slot in the mandrel, and then executes an oscillation during which the mandrel is moved transversely to its longitudinal direction in an arcuate curve towards the packet, until the end of they closure flap projecting out of the slot passes-into the slit in the packet,

: for the purpose of releasing the inserted after which the lever gear causes the return of the mandrel in its longitudinal direction closure flap.

The slotted mandrel and its carrying mechanism are mounted on a long swing lever which is controlled by a lifting cam,

auaaaa, and in Gem February is, 1921.

versely to the plane of oscillation ofthe lever.

The carrier lever for the slotted mandrel consists of a swinging member mounted upon the bolt of the swing lever, the inandrel being secured to one end thereof, and its other end bearing against the iding surface of the controlling lever in uenced by a cam or the like.

The slotted mandrel is rotatably arranged on its carrier lever, the rotation of the man drel being brought about by the swinging of the carrier lever.

In the accompanying drawings one constructional form of the new device is illustrated.

Figure 1 being a side elevation thereof.

Fi ure 2 is a front elevation looking in the irection of the arrow in Fig. 1.

Fi res 3 to 7 serve to illustrate the method 0 working of the a paratus.

Fig. 8 is an enlarge perspective detail of the folding means,

Fig. 9 is transverse section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a similar view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 8.

' A packet a with a closure flap b on a back bridge-piece c and with an introducing slit d on the surface, is displaced in a known manner upon a table 1 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 above the table.- The closure flap then runs, likewise in a known manner, against a guidin ledge 2, which bends it forward by the aid of a co-acting ledge 3, also shown in Figs. 3, 8, 9 andlO.

The bent-up closure flap then bears with its back against a holding ledge 4 provided at a suitable distance above the table. During the further forward feed of the package right against a fixed sto 5, shown in Fig. 1, the holding ledge 4 ho ds the closure flap, which now leaves the guiding ledges 2 and 3, in the bent-up position, the closure flap at the same time shpping into a longitudinal slot in a mandrel 6, in such a way that the end e of the closure flap projects out of the slot. This gives rise to the relative osition of the above-mentioned parts shown in Figs. 1 and i. The mandrel now executes an arcu-- ate movement transversely to its longitudinal direction, whereby it passes into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and finally into theposition shown in Fig. 7. In doing this it takes with it the closure flap seized by it and bends it round in such a way that the tip e finally enters the slot d on the end of the packet a. This entrance is facilitated by the fact that the mandrel itself is mounted as a presser in front of the slit on the end of the packet. When the position accordin to Fig. 7 is reached, the mandrel is pulle away from the closure flap so that now a ram which becomes operative against the back 0 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 7 can immediately bring about the full closure, since the closure flap, with its tip inserted in the slit, slides into the packet of itself.

The mandrel 6 and its carrier mechanism are mounted on a long swinging lever 7, which swings about a frame bolt 8. The oscillation of the lever 7 takes place in the plane of the forwardly bent closure flap 6.

. The radius of oscillation is kept so great that the mandrel executes primarily a movement in its longitudinal direction which is practically sufficient. The swing lever is controlled from a cam disc 9, which is secured to the driving shaft 10, a roller 11 located on the swing lever engaging in a cam groove 12 on the flank of the cam disc.

The controlling of the swing lever 7 is so dimensioned that the mandrel 6 is located in the position of readiness, shown in Fig. 1, when the packet arrives and is carried against the stop 5. The slot in the mandrel is then so positioned that the bent-up closure flap b can enter this slot. During the movements of the mandrel which now follow, the swing lever 7 at first remains stationary in its position.

The mandrel 6 is carried by a carrier lever 13, which is rotatably arranged about a bolt 14 at the upper end of the swing lever 7. This carrier lever receives the support for the mandrel at the upper end and at the lower end a roller 15, with which the carrier lever comes to bear against a guiding surface 16, which is provided at the end of a control lever 17. The control lever swings about a frame bolt 18 and carries a roller 19 by means, of which it bears upon a cam disc 20, which is mounted upon a driven shaft 21. The bearing of the roller 19 on the cam disc 20 is effected by means of a spring 22, which is secured by one end to the lever 17 and by the other end to the frame. On the other hand the bearing of the roller 15 of the carrier lever 13 on the guiding surface 16 is effected by a spring 23, which is attached at one end to a bracket on the carrier lever 13 and at the other end to a tube 24 on the swing lever 7.

The lifting cam 20 causes the control lever the tip into the slit, the mandrel 6, during the deflection of the carrier lever 13, at

the same time executes a rotation about its,

longitudinal axis. In order to render this possible, the support 26 for the mandrel 6 is rotatably mounted with its bolt 27 on the oscillating member 13, the mandrel being interchangeably mounted in a clamping member 25 of the support 26, which is rotatably inserted by a bolt 27 in the carrier lever 13. The support 26 is equipped with a .pinion 28, and the latter meshes with a pinion 29, which is secured upon the pivot bolt 14 of the swing lever 7. This pivot bolt is fixed, so that when the carrier lever 13 oscillates, the toothed wheel 28 rolls upon the stationary toothed wheel 29, whereby the mandrel 6, during the swinging move ment of the carrier lever 13, undergoes a" rotation about its longitudinal axis, which serves to bring the tip 6 of the closure flap into such a position that it reliably enters the slit (Z in the packet.

When the position according to Fig. 7 r

is reached, the swing lever 7 begins to swing out, its swing being towards the, right in Fig. 1. The mandrel 6 is then pulled away from the closure flap 6, the roller 15 gliding upon a guiding surface 16 of the control lever 17.

After the deflection of the lever 7 the initial position, the mandrel 6 also being rotated back at the same time.

When the package is removed, the lever 7 swings back into the position according to Fig. 1, and the series of operations can begin afresh.

What I claim is 1. Apparatus for closing a packet provided with a closure flap and a slit for the insertion of said closure flap, comprising a bending strip, a folder located beside said bending strip for coacting therewith to bend the outer. end of the closure flap upwardly, and a controlled gripper adapted to seize the bent-up end of the closure flap and press it down on to the packet in such a way thatthe tip of the closure flap passes into the slit provided in the packet for its insertion.

2. Apparatus for closing a packet provided with a closure flap and a slit for the insertion of said closure flap, 0011151315111 a bendingstri a folder located besi e sai bending strip or coacting therewith to bend the outer end of the closure fla upwardly, and a controlled slotted man rel adapted to seize the bent-up end of the closure flap and press it down on to the packet in suc a way that the tip of the closure flapI passes into the slit provided in the pac et for its insertion, a controlling lever gear carrying said mandrel, said controlhng lever gear being adapted to execute a movement in the plane of the bent-up closure flap, during'which; movement the closure flap asses into the slot in the mandrel, and

i adapted thereafter to execute an oscil ation in which the mandrel is moved transversely to its longitudinal direction in an arcuate curve towards the packet until the end of the closure flap projecting out of the mandrel slot enters the slit in the into the slit packet, and said controlling lever gear bemg further adapted then -to return the mandrel in its longitudinal direction for the purpose of releasing the mandrel from the inserted closure flap.

3. Apparatus for closing a packet provided with a closure flap and a slit for the insertion of said closure flap, comprising a bending strip, a folder located beside said bending strip for coacting therewith to bend the outer end of the closure flap u wardly, and a controlled slotted mandrel a apted to seize the bent-up end ofthe closure flap and press it down on to the packet in such a way that the tip of the closure flap passes into the slit provided in the packet for .its'insertion sup rting and controlling mechanism or t e mandrel including a long swing lever adapted to oscillate in the plane of the bent-up closure flap, a carrier lever for the mandrel, said carrier lever being pivotally mounted on said swing lever and being adapted to oscillate transversely to the plane of swing of the swing lever, a cam adapted to oscillate the swing lever, and controlling means for deflecting the carrier lever relatively to the swing lever.

4. Apparatus for closing a packet pro vided with a closure flap and a slit for the insertion of said closure flap, comprising a bending strip, a folder located beside said bending strip for coacting therewith to bend the outer end of the closure flap upwardly, and a controlled slotted mandrel adapted to seizethe bent-up end of the closure flap and press it down on to the packet in such a way that the tip of the closure flap fpasses (provided in the packet or its insertion an supporting and controlling mechanism for the mandrel including a long swing lever adapted to oscillate in the plane of the bent-up closure flap, a carrier lever for the mandrel, said carrier lever bein pivotall mounted on said swing lever an ng a apted to oscillate transverselyto the seize the bent-up end of the closure flap and press it down on to the packet in such a way that the tip of the closure flap passes into theslit provided in the packet for its insertion, supporting and controllin mechanism of the swing lever, a cam including a lon swin lever a apted to oscillate in the p ane o the bent-up closure flap, a cam adaptedvto oscillate the swing lever, a carrier lever pivotally mounted on said swing lever and being adapted to oscillate transversely to the plane of swing of the swing lever, the mandrel being rotatably mounted on said carrier lever, controlling the swing lever, an means for rotating the mandrel whenever the lever is oscillated.

6. Ap aratus for closing a packet provided wlth'a closure flap and a slit for the insertion of said closure flap, comprising a bending strip, a folder located beside said bending strip for coacting therewith to bend the outer end of the closure flap upwardly, and a controlled slotted mandrel adapted to seize the bent-up end of the closure flap and press it down on to the packet in such a way that the tip of the closure flap passes into the slit provided in the packet for its insertion, supporting and controlling mechanism including a long swing lever adapted to oscillate in the plane of the bent-up closure flap, a cam adapted to oscillate the swing lever, a carrier lever pivotally mounted on said swing lever and being adapted to oscillate transversely to the plane of swing of the swing lever, the mandrel being rotatably mounted on said carrier lever, controlling means for deflectin the carrier lever relatively to the swing lever, a fixed spur wheel secured to the pivot of the carrier lever, anda spur wheel secured to themandrel and meshinlg upon t e carrier lever being deflected the mandrel is rotated by said toothed wheels.

7. Apparatus for closing a packet provided with a closure flap and a slit for the insertion of said closure flap, comprising a bending strip, a folder located beside said bending strip for coacting therewith to bend the outer end of the closure fla u wardly, and a controlledslotted mandre adapted to means for deflectin the lever relatively to I with said fixed spur wheel, so that seize the bent-up end of the closure flap and press it down on to the packet in such a. way that the tip of the closure flap asses into the slit provided in the packet or its insertion, said supporting and controlling mechanism including a ong swing lever adapted to oscillate in the plane of the bentup closure flap, a cam adapted to oscillate the swing lever, a carrier lever pivotally mounted on said swing lever! and being adapted to oscillate transversely to the plane of swing of the swing lever, the mandrel being rotatably mounted on said-carrier lever, a controlling lever for deflecting the carrier lever relatively to the swing lever, a cam adapted to actuate said controlling lever, a fixed spur wheel secured to the ivot of the carrier lever, and a spur whee secured to the mandrel and meshing with said fixed spur wheel, so that upon the carrier lever being deflected the mandrel is rotated by said toothed wheels.

In testimony whereof I have signed my named to this specification.

ROBERT WILHELM VOIGT. 

